In this issue:

• Random Access Files - by Jim Brossman
• Liberty Simple Help II - a 10th Anniversary Contest Entry by Tom Nally
• Sprite Byte: Scrolling Background - by Alyce Watson
• Blood Pressure Simulator II - by Janet Terra
• Exploring Cellular Automata with Liberty BASIC - by Tom Nally
• Developing a Poker Game - by Gordon Rahman
• Desktop Shortcuts II - by Gordon Rahman
• Beginning Programming - Part 8 - by Brad Moore
  • Part 1 Windows, Graphicboxes, Drawing
  • Part 2 Graphics Craps, Logic, Buttons, Statictext
  • Part 3 Complete Game, SUBs, The Challenge
  • Glossary & Appendix
• Demos
  • Stand Alone Speech Aid - Gordon Sweet
  • CAD Keys - by Gordon Sweet
• Newsletter help
• Index

Notes from the Editor:

Welcome to another fun and revealing issue of the Liberty Basic Newsletter. Well they have done it again, they have let me edit another edition - you would think that after the other issues the other fine editors would know better. We actually have Mr Nally (of the "not in this issue" fame) as responsible for the theme of this month's edition…

This is the Alligator issue. (Well if other mags can have theme issues, why can't I?). Having been recently transplanted into the South, gators have been on my mind just a little bit. I don't suppose anyone has seen one in these parts in many years, but I am guessing the road that cuts through the swamp just up the street is not called "Alligator Road" just for the humor effect.

Speaking of gators always brings me back to "Cuddles". A lot has been said about Cuddles recently and being acquainted with Nally's stunning little pet, I thought it would be fun to show off just a bit of what life is like living with a five foot three man eating creature. What better way to show off the special, intimate relationship that Tom and Cuddles have, other than a quick look into preparations for a special night on the town:

In another moment of closeness, Cuddles can be seen reaching up to Tom for a kiss. Like cats, gators are known to give friendly nips as a sign of affection. Tom (also known as "peg leg" and "two fingers" around the water cooler) has learned to adapt to this behavior.

The Nally's often throw lavish parties for Cuddles and her friends to keep them happy and entertained. This custom began benignly enough with special birthday gatherings when Cuddles was younger, as seen in this photo:

Unfortunately these have evolved into elaborate occasions, sometimes requiring rented gowns, tuxes, limo and driver.

I know Cuddles is a big girl and I personally was scared stiff when she and Tom visited recently. I wasn't even going to let Tom bring her into the house, but to hear him talk, Cuddles was just a big toy. Even little kids were safe around him:

Don't believe that! After that encounter, the only alligator I let into my house in "Chip":

Ok, ok - it was all in fun. I hope you had fun. If not, maybe the stuff we have in store here will bring a smile to your face. People have gone all out on this one! Well, this has been quite a task. An awful lot of energy goes into editing, testing, correcting writing, coordinating and generally just getting by when creating the newsletter. I am incredibly grateful to the team who stands behind me and supports me. I know Tom has great news about the team, but I won't let the cat out of the bag.

I am also very grateful to all the people who give so much to create and share articles and demos for the community. You truly make this a great publication.

Man what a line up of heavy hitters this month - huh?

Tom Nally, editor and alligator man (NOT!) has created a really fun program where you can Explore Cellular Automata. This one was really great and I loved playing with it. You will too. Tom does hardly even mention it, but included in the article and demo is a fantastic HTML based help system that he created. It is worth checking out. Maybe we can get Tom to write an article on that help system.

Before Tom submitted his article I asked his permission to include his 10th Anniversary Entry, the Simple Help II program. It has a short article and is a great platform for getting a nice easy help system into your program. This is an update to the one published in newsletter 103.

Janet is back! Well, maybe I roped her into this one, but she claims she came willingly. Doing her a favor (deleting a file) I got a peek at a Blood Pressure simulator that she had written. This was a gem and I really wanted to share it. When asked, she agreed. Later she updated it, and even created a great article about the development cycle she took, both learning to develop this kind of program, and learning to program in general. It is a really great program and I recommend you take a look!

Alyce Watson has created another soon to be hit in the Sprite Byte series with her Scrolling Background article and demo. If you think you want to do sprites and sprite based games, you need to read this series.

Gordon Rahman is back with what is a first part of a card game tutorial. He spends some time working through the details of using QCARD.DLL and handling cards. Also some thoughts and code around determining value of hands in Poker. His demo and article are called Developing a Poker Game.

Gordon Rahman also has the last part of the Desktop Shortcuts article from issue 119 which was inadvertently left off. Get the last ideas to what is now a two part article. Thanks Gordon for hanging in there with us. There is a lot to juggle, and this happens from time to time. Heck I even forgot to include an article from Alyce in one of my newsletters a couple years ago!

Our other resident Gordon - Mr Sweet is back with a couple great demos. I really likes the CADKey demo (you might too) and would love to see this one take a bit further to create a nice 2D CAD clone. Gordon also has another speech based program - this one for Aiding speech. It uses STM.DLL.

Last (maybe least - but not in page count!) is Part 8 in the Beginning Programming Series. I have received really nice comments on this and appreciate the encouragement. I know that it is aimed more at the entry level programmer, but I slip tid-bits in there for even the seasoned programmer. Give it a read. I think it might be fun.

It has been great putting this issue together, and I hope you enjoy it. Please take time to comment on what you liked, make mention of things that need changed and maybe make some suggestions about what you would like to see next. The main area for discussion of the newsletter is on the Conforums website at: [http://babek.info/libertybasicfiles/lbnews/]

Thanks - Brad Moore